Buy/Sell/Steal for Week 1

Emptying out the notebook

— Ezekiel Elliott‘s suspension was upheld, but he WILL play Week 1. He still could miss Weeks 2-7 pending legal actions.

— Andrew Luck will not play in Week One; Scott Tolzien will start

— The status of Odell Beckham, Jr. (ankle) is something to monitor before setting your lineups.

— Spencer Ware (KC) and Julian Edelman (NE) are both out for the year.

— Doug Martin (TB) and Willie Snead (NO) are suspended for the first three games of the season.

— Kansas City at New England is the Thursday night game of the week.

— Two Monday night games this week: New Orleans at Minnesota and L.A. Chargers at Denver.

— Tampa Bay at Miami will not be played in Miami due to Hurricane Irma. Date and location is still TBD.

— Trades that happened over the weekend with fantasy implications: Phillip Dorsett to the Patriots, Jermaine Kearse to New York Jets, Sammie Coates to the Browns.

Ravens Fantasy Outlook

The Ravens running back situation is worth monitoring. They signed Alex Collins and Jeremy Langford to the practice squad.  This could mean the team is not confident in what they currently have with Terrance West and Buck Allen.

Ravens Defense: This defense has been lights out all preseason and I see no need to think that will not carry over to the season.

Justin Tucker: Until otherwise proven wrong, Tucker is the Ravens’ best offensive weapon. Tucker will be in line for at least four field goal attempts this week and maybe an extra point.

Danny Woodhead: Joe Flacco has not played all preseason and the offensive line play has been shaky. Look for a lot of check downs, to the team’s “best receiving back since Ray Rice“.

Buy

QB: Tom Brady: In the season openers after a Pats Super Bowl win, Brady is 4-0 and has averaged 306 yards passing while tossing 12 TD’s and one INT.

Marcus Mariota:  The Titans open at home against the Raiders, whose defense finished near the bottom of the league last year.

Eli Manning:  Manning takes on a Dallas team that has no presence of a pass rush and a very bad secondary. He will have plenty of time to find the WR duo of Beckham, Jr. and Brandon Marshall.

Other names: Ben Roethlisberger, Jameis Winston, Matt Ryan, Carson Wentz, Russell Wilson

RB: Frank Gore: With Luck out for this game, it is safe to say Gore will get between 20-25 touches in this game.

Ezekiel Elliott: Elliott averaged 102 yards per game last year, including a 107-yard performance against the Giants in December. Elliott will give it his all plus more at home with his six-game suspension looming.

Other names: Dalvin Cook, DeMarco Murray, David Johnson, Devonta Freeman, LeSean McCoy, Christian McCaffrey, Kareem Hunt

WR: Brandin Cooks: With Edelman lost for the year, Cooks moves into the number one spot in NE.

Stefon Diggs: Diggs will take advantage of a horrible Saints defense at home.

Brandon Marshall: Marshall gets to play opposite of Beckham, and therefore can take advantage of not seeing the opposing defense’s number one CB.

Other names: Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, Larry Fitzgerald, Alshon Jeffery, DeAndre Hopkins, DeVante Parker, Odell Beckham, Jr. (if healthy), Cole Beasley

TE: Rob Gronkowski:  KC gave up an average of 10 points per game to TE last year and never faced a TE like Gronk.

Julius Thomas: Thomas’ best years came in Denver, while his new head coach Adam Gase was the OC there. When Gase was an OC in Chicago, Jay Cutler had his best year and found a love for throwing to his tight ends.

Other names: Kyle Rudolph, Greg Olsen, Jack Doyle

Def: Atlanta, L.A. Rams, L.A. Chargers, Buffalo

Sell

QB: Cam Newton:  Playing on the road against an upstart defense after shoulder surgery, I would try to avoid this option in Week one.

Other names: Andy Dalton, Scott Tolzien

RB: Le’Veon Bell: A little worried about a guy who missed all of the offseason workouts, training camp, and pre-season games; I have to wonder how involved he will be in the first game of the year.

Adrian Peterson: A 32-year-old running back coming back from an injury, who is on a new team that runs most of their formations out of the shotgun (not a strong suit of Peterson). Pass on AP for now.

Leonard Fournette/Marshawn Lynch: They both have horrible match-ups.  Fournette gets Houston and Lynch, who has not played since the 2015 season, gets to face a Dick Lebeau defense on the road.

Other names: Ty Montgomery, Melvin Gordon

WR: A.J. Green: Green will be controlled by the revamped Ravens secondary.

T.Y. Hilton: With Luck out, Hilton’s fantasy value takes a hit this week

Other names: Golden Tate

TE: Coby Fleener: In what is such a pass-heavy offense, Fleener never seems to fit in.  Don’t look for it to start against Minnesota.

Other names: Jared Cook

Def: Dallas, Washington

Steals

QB: Tom Savage (HOU): Looking for a cheap QB option? Savage finished the preseason going 27 for 36 with 246 yards and one touchdown.

RB: Jacquizz Rodgers (TB): Rodgers gets the chance to showcase his talents filling in for Martin.

Matt Breida (SF): Breida had a strong preseason and will back up Carlos Hyde.  Breida will get plenty of chance if Hyde falters against Carolina.

WR: Robby Anderson (Jets): Buffalo lost their two top CB’s (Darby and Gilmore).

Martavis Bryant (Pit): A guy coming back from suspension who some have forgot about.

Kenny Golladay (Det): He could emerge as the best WR in Detroit. He will give the Cardinals fits out of the slot.

Cooper Kupp (Rams): Kupp will be a PPR steal who should produce solid numbers at home against a Colts defense.

TE:  Austin Hooper (Atl): Playing against a Bears defense that is not very good.

Def: Tennessee